Greater St. Louis Bridge News

News from Greater St. Louis Unit 143

Editor:  Sheryl Finkenstadt, St. Louis MO    sheryl@finkenstadt.com
 

“A beautiful partnership does not depend upon how well we understand someone, but on how well we avoid misunderstandings." 

Ed Schultz wins Player of the Year

The Unit 143 Player Of The Year (POTY) is awarded to that Unit member in good standing who has won the most masterpoints in unrestricted Unit-sponsored events in a given calendar year  (10 Unit games, 3 Sectionals, 1 Regional, and the Bragging Rights Team game), by finishing first, second or third in the overalls.

Ed Schultz of Chesterfield MO is the 2008 winner. He's shown accepting the award from Unit President Suzi Shymanski-Moore on January 17 at the sectional in St. Charles.

This honor reflects loyalty and dedication and, of course, a great deal of skill. Other top Player of the Year contenders included Alan Popkin, Nancy Popkin, Tom Oppenheimer & Tom Kniest.

Ed passed away on January 30, less than two weeks after the tournament. Eddie faced his disease with courage and his spirit did not bend. We will miss him; he was a special person. We are so lucky to have had him with us at the January Sectional to accept the 2008 Player of the Year award.
 

Unit Appoints New Disciplinary Committee & Chair

The Unit 143 Board Directors has appointed a new Disciplinary Committee, chaired by George Hawley. Committee members include Sandy Becker and Carol Hamilton, both attorneys. The Unit wishes to thank Alan Popkin for his years of service as Disciplinarian for the Unit.

Suzi Shymanski-Moore Resigns as President

On January 18, the Board of Directors accepted Unit President Suzi Shymanski-Moore's letter of resignation as president and all positions she held on the Board of Directors. Donna Pedrotti, current vice-president, becomes acting president until the February Board Meeting. 

Members of the Board of Directors and Unit 143 wish to thank Suzi for her years of service to the Unit in all her capacities, especially as recent President, hospitality chair, caddy chair, and member of the charity committee. 

Suzi's shoes will be difficult to fill as she has long gone the extra mile to see that we had outstanding hospitality at our tournaments.   We hope she is able to volunteer for us in the future.  Her tireless energy and enthusiasm for the success of bridge and the Unit are a rare combination.  We wish Suzi and Doug best of luck in all their future endeavors.

Cold, schmold! 

The January Sectional held in refurbished Blanchette Park set a new table attendance winter record, with 373 tables for the 3-day tournament. Managed by a great team of tournament directors under the guidance of Chris Patrias, with the assistance of a multitude of volunteers including Tournament Chair Mike Carmen, the winter sectional reflected the commitment and dedication of players to having FUN. Three hundred eighty-four (384) players garnered 1440.50 MPs. Many were “regulars” – but some had never before played in a sectional and took home their first silver.

Top winner was Alan Popkin with 44.25 masterpoints, followed closely by Tom Oppenheimer (37.17) and Nancy Popkin (31.12).

Club Corner

Beth Percich runs four games each week: Thursday morning & Saturday afternoon –  usually two sections each  -- are at Olivette Community Center. She also holds two Tuesday games: morning at Occidental Lodge and evening at Garden Villas West. 

Unlike many directors, Beth did NOT learn how to play bridge before she was directing games. She started running bridge games in 1981 with her grandfather, Ted Browne. First, she was taught to score (of course, by hand) and when she asked, “When will you teach me to play?”, he said, “Later.” Next she learned all of the wonderful movements of this game, including a few of Grandpa’s. And again, she asked, “When will you teach me to play?”, and he said, “That’s the easy part. You need to know the laws and rules of the game first.” 

So she did, and passed the director’s test. Then she asked again about playing and he said, “Now you need to learn the most important part of the game, and that is everyone’s name.” After a while, she was finally allowed to kibitz, but only the players who played strong 2’s, 4-card majors and a nice straight Standard American game.

Time marched on, and now Beth is not only an excellent director, she is a Bronze Life Master. Beth hasn’t forgotten her Grandpa’s important principle: people first. She even provides “healthy” veggie snacks in addition to the usual sweet or salty. 

Congratulations  to the following players who have advanced in rank between October 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009:

Unit 143 currently has 1076 members: 746 non-LM, 328 LM.  With more than 50% of the Unit’s membership below 100 masterpoints, this is a tribute to a vigorous Intermediate/Novice program.  (The national average is 200 MPs for the 50^th percentile.)

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

March 7, 2009  (199er Championship)

May 15-17, 2009  (Sectional)

August 17-23, 2009  (Regional)

September 26, 2009  (199er Championship)

October 16-18, 2009  (Sectional)